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Kuwaiti students graduate as "NGO Leaders" from France's Sciences Po

18 Kuwaiti students received their diplomas and graduated - several with honors - attesting to the ongoing commitment of the State of Kuwait to emphasize education as a cornerstone to youth development and the future of the nation.

The ceremony was held at France's world-renowned Institute for Political Studies (IEP), commonly known as "Sciences Po".

The students took part in an intensive course here to prepare them to be future "leaders" in the non-governmental sector and continue Kuwait's long tradition of charitable and humanitarian work at home and abroad.The graduation ceremony was co-presided by Kuwaiti Ambassador to France, Sami Mohammad Al-Suleiman and Vanessa Scherrer, Vice-Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po.

The graduating students "showed strong commitment to their courses", Scherrer told KUNA, and "are now equipped to move forward towards rewarding careers." In commencement remarks, she told graduates that "you succeed in life from hard work" but also "when you put passion into what you do. You are now NGO professionals and I am sure you will go very far in life." "I want to congratulate you on your graduation...You made it! This is your first link with Science Po. but I hope it won't be your last," Scherrer said.

She emphasized to KUNA that the current "batch of students" were not the only Kuwaitis at Science Po. and there were several others in graduate and undergraduate programmes at the school, which is known in France as a springboard to high office and has been attended by most of France's political elite and many others in senior positions in government administration and elsewhere.

The programme followed by the students was under the aegis of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and Scherrer expressed her thanks and appreciation for the collaboration established between her Institute and the Kuwaiti entity.

"I would like to thank first of all our partner, the KFAS. Thank you so much for these years of collaboration and thank you for giving us the opportunity to work with so talented young professionals from this programme," she added.

And Al-Suleiman, who spent almost a full day with the students this week - a gesture that was highly appreciated among the young Kuwaitis - said that the programme at Sciences Po. reflected the determination of the State of Kuwait at the highest level to promote and support education.

He said the future of young people and education is "the most important point" of Kuwaiti society and he praised the ongoing cooperation, now for several years, with Sciences Po.

He warmly thanked organisers and faculty at the school for giving the "best of their time" to the Kuwaiti students during their stay.

He noted the "encouragement and directions of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to pay more attention to and to focus on the youth of the State of Kuwait and to enhance their ability to be very active and productive members of society." He stressed "the government of Kuwait is organizing and is involved in many workshops, programmes etc. in order to help members of society to be very active and serve their home country." Al-Suleiman also remarked that the training the students received in this Paris programme corresponds to the profile of Kuwait, which has been for a very long time a key player in charity and humanitarian works, both inside and outside of the Gulf nation."The programme crystallizes what Kuwait is," Al-Suleiman affirmed.

"Kuwaiti people have been known for a long time for being very generous, with an active nation in charity works and non-profit activities," the Ambassador pointed out, noting that this charity and humanitarian work has received international recognition.

"As appreciation for this role, Kuwait has been appointed a Centre for Humanitarian Work (by the United Nations) and his Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has been nominated a global Humanitarian Leader" by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

"So we need our young members of society to be well trained in this regard, and also to participate in a number of global initiatives and projects," Al-Suleiman concluded, noting that Sciences Po. has a very important role to play in achieving these ambitions.